Suction cleaner



Nov. 21, 1967 B. E. .NILSSON SUCTION CLEANER 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 15, 1963 INWVENTOR.

QM z/ B. E. NILSSON Nov. 21, 1967 SUCTION CLEANER 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 15, 1963 W IVIA J ENTOR I ZtMM/ Nov. 21, 1967 B. E. NILSSON 3,353,338-

SUCTION CLEANER Filed Jan. 15. 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG. 5

4a,, [Ix ENTER.

United States Patent Ofifice 3,353,338 SUCTION CLEANER Bengt Erik Nilsson, Hagersten, Sweden, assignor to Aktiebolaget Electrolux, Stockholm, Sweden, a corporation of Sweden Filed Jan. 15, 1963, Ser. No. 251,606 Claims. (Cl. 55-276) My invention relates to suction cleaners.

A motor-fan unit usually is employed to move air in a path of flow from the inlet to the outlet of a suction cleaner. Dust is removed from dust-laden air flowing through the suction cleaner in a dust bag which is located adjacent the inlet and removable from the cleaner. A fine filter often is provided adjacent the air outlet of the cleaner to insure removal of any fine dust particles which may pass through the dust bag before the air is discharged into the room. The air outlet or blowing outlet end of the cleaner usually is formed to detachably receive one end of a hose, to the opposite end of which is connected an accessory, such as a spraying device, for example.

An object of my invention is to provide an improved suction cleaner of the type indicated in which an air discharge opening formed to detachably receive an end of the hose is concealed from view by a fine filter which can be readily removed to make the air discharge opening available for use when desired and functions as a silencer by absorbing noise produced during normal operation of the cleaner for suction purpose.

Another object of the invention is to provide a combined fine filter and diifusion unit having a member which includes one section which is permeable to air and another section which is impervious to air and will promote distribution of air at the side of the member initially contacted by the air. I accomplish this by providing a combined filter and difliuser unit having a chamber defined by a porous sheet of air-permeable material which has a cross-sectional area greater than an air discharge opening in the path of air flow and includes one part which is impervious to air and against which the air is primarily directed from the air discharge opening. In addition to reducing noise produced by the suction cleaner during normal operation, the air-impervious part of the sheet effectively distributes the air discharged into the filter chamber and improves diffusion of air flowing through the porous sheet. The combined filter and diffusion unit is maintained in its operative position by an apertured member which is movable to and from a position over the air discharge opening and forms an exterior wall section of the cleaner, whereby air discharged from the opening is introduced into the filter chamber from which it flows through the porous sheet and through the apertured member to the exterior of the cleaner, the air outlet of which is defined by the movable exterior wall section when positioned over the air discharge opening.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the following description proceeds, and the features of novelty which characterize the invention will be pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this specification.

For a better understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view, partly broken away and in section, of a suction cleaner embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary top plan view of the cleaner shown in FIG. 1;

3,353,338 Patented Nov. 21, 1967 FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 illustrating the manner in which access is gained to the air discharge opening of the cleaner;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken at line 4-4 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a bottom plan view of details shown in FIGS. 1 to 4;

FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view taken at line 6-6 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view taken at line 77 of FIG. 5;

FIGS. 8 and 9 are fragmentary views of parts similar to those shown in FIG. 6 illustrating modifications of the invention; and

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary view similar to FIG. 2 illustrating a further modification of the invention.

Referring to the drawing, the invention has been shown in connection with a horizontal tank-type suction cleaner 10 having a casing 11 including a top 12, bottom 14 and vertically extending side walls 15. The casing 11 is provided with a handle 16 and spaced members 17 which extend lengthwise of the casing along the bottom 14 and serve as skids to facilitate movement of the cleaner on a surface.

A front end cover 18 is removably secured at 19 to the casing 11 in any suitable manner and formed with an inlet opening 21 to which a suction hose (not shown) is adapted to be removably connected. Suitable cleaning appliances may be connected to the outer free end of the suction hose and through which air flows into the casing. Within the casing 11 is provided a perforated partition 21, at one side of which is disposed a removable dust collector or dust bag 22 which acts to separate dust from air as it flows therethrough.

Flow of air through casing 11 is effected by a motorfan unit 23 which includes a centrifugal fan 24 carried at one end of an electric motor 25. The motor-fan unit 23 is suspended in casing 11 by structure 26 which provides a resilient mounting for the motor-fan unit and a seal between spaces 27 and 28 in the casing, the inner and outer peripheries of the suspension structure being respectively fixed to the motor-fan unit 23 and an inwardly extending flange 29 of the casing. The motor-fan unit 23 is controlled by a switch 30 which is arranged to be actuated by a button 31 located at the top of a rear hood or end cover 32 removably secured in any suitable manner (not shown) to the casing 11.

When the suction cleaner 10 is being operated and the fan 24 driven by the motor 25, dust-laden air is drawn through the suction hose into the interior of the casing 11. Dust collects in the bag 22, and air from which dust has been removed passes through the dust bag and perforated partition 21 into the space 27. Air in the space 27 flows into the inlet 24' of the fan 24 from which it is discharged and flows through the shell of the motor 25 to effect cooling thereof, such air passing from the motor at 33 into the space 28 defined in part by the suspension structure 26 which bridges the gap between the motor-fan unit 23 and the flange 29. In this way the passage formed between the casing 11 and the motor-fan unit 23 is closed by the suspension structure 26 and all of the air discharged from the fan 24 passes through the motor 25 into the space 28.

The space 28 is also defined in part by a transverse partition 32a which is impervious to air and fixed to the casing 11 in any suitable manner to form a seat at the end thereof in which a part 3211 of the rear end cover 32 nests when it is mounted on the casing. When the rear end cover 32 is removed from the casing 11 to repair the switch 30 or provide a new one for the cleaner 10, for example, the transverse partition 32a remains in its mounted position on the casing 11 so that contact with the motor 25 is prevented.

alongside one another and have a common longitudinal :axis c:c ;extending lengthwise of the cleaner 10. The axis of the air discharge opening 34 is transverse to the longitudinal :axis c'c of the dusttbag 22 and motor-fan unit 23 so that all of the air emerging from the openings 33 ofthe motor shell will flow to the; toppart .of the casing 11 I and be discharged upward therefrom through the opening 34.

A suction cleaner accessory is often detachably connected to the air discharge opening 34 of the cleaner. The ;-accessory-mayfbe athose, or a spraying device which isconnected to one end of thehose, the opposite end of which is connected'tothe air discharge opening34. Such accessories are usually provided with fittings-which are of 'a' kind wellwknownin the art and enable'them to be. detaohably connected to the opening 34.

Afine filter andadiffuser'unit 35' is provided at the top wall 12 of the casing 11 which is attached to theair dis- :chargeaopening34 andwremovable therefrom to permit a dust .bag 22 and'motor-f-an unit 23 whicharedisposed I suction cleaneraccessory tobe detachably connected tothe opening 34. The filter and .diffuser unit 35 comprises a hollow tubular ;or throat section 36 and a plurality of spaced ribs 37 which are distributed about the tubular'sect-ion-and extend radiallyandaxially therefrom, the ribs being inclined 'to the vertical'axis of the filter and diffuser ,unit and; sloping from the end of the tubular section. The outer ends of the ribs ;3.7 are joined .to a fiat rim 38 of rectangular shape, as seen in FIG. 5. The unit 35 is pro- ..vided withtwo sheets 39 and '40 of porous material which :are permeable to air and'preferably microporousv in .char- .acter. The sheet 39., which :is .apertured, is positioned against the surfaces ;37.a.of the ribs :37 with-its inner periphery integrally joined at 39a to the tubular section 36 land its outer periphery integrallyjoinedto .the 38 and overlying the'latter. The. sheet 40 of-rectangular'shape a .is essentially flat and perpendicular to the vertical axis of thetubular section 36 and its vertical axis'is" laterally dis- ,placed fromthe region39ja -.at.-which the :sheet 39 is joined to .one .end of thetubular section. The outer periphery .ofthe. sheet 40 also is integrally joined t01th6 outer edge portion of the rim 38'and overlies both the rim and outer periphery of the sheet 39.

.The sheets 39 and 40 form :a r-hollows'member defining a chamber -41 which receives air entering through the :tubular or throat-section.36, the ribs '37 integrally joined .to the-sheet 39 being disposed exteriorlyof the chamber 41. The tubular section -36 {isrresilient :and flexible 'in character and formed withian'external groove 36a of annular torm adjacent a tapered {end portion 36b to facilitate its attachmenttoand .removal from the edge of the opening inthe top wall 12 defining theair discharge opening .34.

The fine filter and diffuser .unit:35 may be formed of a single body of thermoplastic materialinwhich .the tubular section 36, ribs-37 audrim38 are'integrally joined .to one-another to form a frame to which the: porous sheets 39 and 40 are bonded and united. For example,.the sheets .39 and-4i) may-comprise single; sheets of material, such as cloth, paper or the-like, for example, which are :formedof fibrous material which is permeableto air andiimpregnated or bonded with a plastic like :poly-acrylonitrile butadiene-styrene. The frame/also may-berformed of a plastic like polyaerylonitrile tbutadienesstyrene, for example. When a plastic of this type is employed to provide the frame, it may be .formed bycompression molding in suitable dies :in which the sheets "39 and 40 are positioned, whereby the sheets 39 and 40 and'thedrame become'an 'integrahstructure with-the sheets and'frame bonded to one another.

According to my invention, the combined filter and diffusion unit 35 is mounted on the top wall 12 of the casing 11 with the tubular or throat section 36 detachably connected to theopening -34 and securely held in position by an apertured'mernber 42 havingsa reticulated grill defined by spaced axially extending ribs 42a and transverse ribs 42b. The'holder 42 may be formed of a plastic, for example, which-.is like the material referred to above from which the frame for the filter and difiusion unit 35 may be formed.

The apertured member 42 is movable lengthwise or axially of the casing'll in spaced guides or tracks 43 fixed to the top 12 of'the 'casingin any suitable manner. The

tracks 43 areformed with Usshaped .channels 44, the

open ends of which face one "another 'and'receive the outermost axially extending :n'bs 42a of thernember 42. The top parts of the tracks 43, whichform theupperarm's 44a of thechannels 44,0ve-rlie the top edges of the outermost axially extending 'r'ibs 42a and form grooves in which the member42 is movable lengthwise of the-casing .11. As best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the'handle 16 and spaced tracks .43 may-comprisean integral :part which may be :formed of a suitable plastic, for example. In its closed position the "member 42 abuts an end :ring 45 of the casing 11, as shown in FIG. 2. -When the 'member 42 is in its closed position and holds the filter'andl'difiusionunit '35 in place at the top Wall :12 of the casing, the top'sheet 40 is held in place and prevented from :flexing upward by the vertically. extending ribs 42a and "43b, the bottom edges of .which are in intimate contact with'the porous;sl1eet'40.

The member 42forms an exterior wall section of the casing 11 and inits closed position over the air discharge opening 34-defines the air outlet of the suction cleaner.

When it'isdesired to connect a suction cleaneraccessory to the airdischange :opening '340f thecleaner, the mem- .ber 42 is moved lengthwise of the casing '11 beneath the handle 16 :so that the combined filter and diffusion unit 35 can be detached from theair discharge opening '34. In FIG. 3 itwill=be seen thatthe left-hand-end'iof the member 42 is notched at 46. When the member '42'-is-moved.to its normal closed position seen inF 1G. 2, the notched :ends 46 of the member move against shoulders-47 on the tracks which frictionally grip the left-hand :end .of the member 42 and serve as stops to limit axial movement of the member.

The filter unit 35 serves to remove fine '"dust'particles from air'dischar-ged and emerging from the opening 34. The chamber 41 formed by theporous sheets 39-and-40 defines a diffusion chamber which .is above the opening 34 and'belowthe tops-beet 40 of the filter unit 35.During normal operation of the cleaner 10 .a .stream'of air emerges through the opening 34 at a.relatively high velocity. The stream of air is directed toward a single side of said'sheet, whichhas opposing first and second sides, the air'streamfiowing'through'the opening 34 'in a direction substantially perpendicular to said "sheetjlhe porous sheet 40 has 'anovera-ll cross-sectional "area that is materially greater than that of :the opening'34, whereby the air discharged from the cleanerso that settled'dustin-the vicinity of the cleaner will not be disturbed.

According to my invention, the top porous sheet 4.0 of the filter unit35 is provided with one part'or-zone 48 which is impervious .to air and located at a region directly above the tubular section 36 of the filter unit.'The airimpervious zone 48 may be formedby fixing a layer of plastic material, such as polyethylene, for example, to the underside of the porous sheet 40. 3 I have found that by providing the air-impervious zone 48, better distribution of air is eifected intheeh'am'ber 41 of the filter unit and the tendency for a greater part of the air stream to pass through a central region of the porous sheet 40 is reduced. Also, the air-impervious zone 48 serves to reduce the noise produced by the suction cleaner. Stated another way, the filter chamber 41 provided with the air-impervious zone 48 at the vicinity of the top sheet directly opposite the region air is introduced into the chamber through the tubular section 36 from the air discharge opening 34 functions as a silencer by absorbing noise.

It will be understood that the layer of air-impervious material forming the part or zone 48 may be fixed to the top side of the porous sheet 40 or located substantially at least at one of said opposing first and second sides of the porous sheet. In FIG. 8 I have illustrated a modification in which the porous sheet 40a is treated by a self-hardening liquid which includes a suitable plastic, for example, to provide the zone 48a. In FIG. 9 I have illustrated a modification in which the porous sheet 4012 is apertured and formed with an opening 40b above the tubular section 36'. The opening 40b is closed by a layer of airimpervious material to form the zone 48b.

In FIG. 10 I have shown a modification in which the air-impervious zone 48' is provided at the underside of the apertured member 42' at a region overlying the porous sheet 40 and directly above the tubular section of the filter unit 35'. When the apertured member 42' is formed of suitable plastic, the zone 48' may be formed integrally with the ribs 42a and 42b of the apertured member when the latter is fabricated.

It will now be understood that the dust collector 22 in the path of air flow is disposed between the air inlet 20 and the air moving means 23, and the fine air filter 35 is disposed between the air moving means 23 and the air outlet of the cleaner which is defined by the apertured member 42 when the latter, which serves as an exterior wall section of the casing 11, is in its closed position over the opening 34, as shown in FIG. 1. The dust collector 22 and air moving means 23 and fine air filter 35 comprise a plurality of elements functioning in the path of air flow between the inlet 20 and outlet defined by the apertured member 42. The fine air filter 35 comprises the last element in the path of flow through which air passes before being discharged through the outlet defined by the apertured member 42.

The portion of the path of flow of air between the air moving means 23 and the fine air filter 35 includes the opening 34 formed in the top wall portion of the casing 11. Essentially, the opening 34 formed in the casing defines passage means from which air emerges in its path of flow toward the fine air filter 35. The passage means constitutes structure which is operable to produce an air stream which is directed through the throat section 36 substantially perpendicularly primarily to one part 48 of the sheet 40 of the fine air filter 35. The one part 48 of the sheet 40 may be formed by a layer of air-impervious material, other parts of the sheet 40 being permeable to air to promote spreading of air at the one side of the sheet initially contacted by the air and reduce noise produced during operation of the cleaner.

In view of the foregoing, it will now be understood that I have provided an improved fine filter and diffusion unit 35 including a member 40 which is in the path of flow of air circulating through the suction cleaner and includes one section which is permeable to air and disposed about a central section 48 which is impervious to air and will promote distribution of air at the side of the member 40 initially contacted by the air.

Although I have shown and described several embodiments of my invention, I do not wish to be limited to the particular arrangements set forth, and I intend in the following claims to cover all modifications which do not depart from the spirit and scope of my invention.

I claim:

1. In a suction cleaner having a casing provided with an inlet and outlet and having a path of flow for air therein between the inlet and outlet, means in said casing for moving air in the path of flow from the inlet to the outlet, passage means in said casing which is in said path of flow between the inlet and outlet and has an opening therein which is adjacent to the outlet and from which air emerges in its path of flow from the inlet to the outlet, said casing including an apertured exterior wall section which is movable to and from a position over the opening, the outlet being defined by said apertured exterior wall section in its position over said opening, a fine air filter comprising material in the form of a sheet having a cross-sectional area greater than that of said opening, said sheet having first and second opposing sides and being transverse to the axis of said opening and removably positioned in said path of flow between said opening and said exterior wall section and through which all of the air moving in said path of flow passes to remove fine dust particles therefrom, structure comprising said passage means having said opening to produce a stream of air which is directed toward a single side of said sheet in a direction substantially perpendicular to and primarily to one part of said sheet, and means to render said one part of said sheet impervious to air while other parts of said sheet are permeable to air to promote spreading of air at the single side of said sheet which is initially contacted by the stream of air and reduce noise produced during operation of the suction cleaner.

2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which said fine air filter in the path of flow of air includes a throat section removably connected to the opening and said apertured exterior wall section comprises an apertured element which overlies said fine air filter in its position over said opening.

3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which said apertured element in its position over said opening and said sheet of said fine air filter are in intimate physical contact with one another and said one part of said sheet is rendered impervious to air by means which includes structure forming a unitary part of said element.

4. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which said casing includes guide means in which said apertured element is slidably movable to and from its position over said opening.

5. In a suction cleaner having a casing provided with an inlet and an outlet and having a path of flow for air therein between the inlet and outlet, means in said casing for moving air in the path of flow from the inlet to the outlet, the outlet being disposed in the upper part of the casing, passage means in said casing which is in said path of flow between the inlet and outlet and has an opening which is adjacent to the outlet and from which air emerges in its path of flow from the inlet to the outlet, said opening having a vertically extending axis, the top of said casing having an apertured exterior wall section which is movable to and from a horizontally disposed position over said opening, the outlet at the upper part of said casing being defined by said apertured exterior wall section in its horizontally disposed position over said opening, a fine air filter comprising a hollow member defining a chamber and a throat section which is connected thereto and in communication with said chamber, said throat section being detacha'bly connected to said passage means at said opening therein to receive air emerging from said opening, said chamber being defined in part by material in the form of a sheet which is permeable to air and forms a portion of said hollow member and is substantially normal to the axis of said throat section, said sheet having opposing top and bottom sides and a cross-sectional area greater than that of said opening and in said path of flow between said opening and said exterior wall section and through which all of the air moving in said path of flow passes to remove fine dust particles therefrom, structure comprising said passage means having said opening to produce a stream of air which is directed toward the bottom side of said sheet in a di- "rection substantially perpendicular to a'nd primarily to one part of said sheet, means to render said one 'part of said sheet impervious to air while other parts of said sheet are permeable to air'to promote spreading of air exterior wall section comprising an apertured element,

and said casing including guide means in which said apertured element is slidably movable to and from its position over the opening, said apertured element in itsposition over the opening overlying said sheet.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,134,294 2/1915 Supanz.

1,952,989 3/ 1934 Joseph 55-418 2,242,278 5/1941 Yonkers 55-435 X 2,318,088 5/1943 Martinet 55-379 X 8 Wales 55-'3"64 X Yonkers 55-413 X .Meyerho'efer 553'8 1 Kowalewski 55472 X FOREIGN PATENTS Austria. France. Germany. Great Britain.

Great Britain. Great Britain.

Netherlands.

HARRY B. THORNTON, Primary Examiner.

20 DjTALBERT, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN A SUCTION CLEANER HAVING A CASING PROVIDED WITH AN INLET AND OUTLET AND HAVING A PATH OF FLOW FOR AIR THEREIN BETWEEN THE INLET AND OUTLET, MEANS IN SAID CASING FOR MOVING AIR IN THE PATH OF FLOW FROM THE INLET TO THE OUTLET, PASSAGE MEANS IN SAID CASING WHICH IS IN SAID PATH OF FLOW BETWEEN THE INLET AND OUTLET AND HAS AN OPENING THEREIN WHICH IS ADJACENT TO THE OUTLET AND FROM WHICH AIR EMERGES IN ITS PATH OF FLOW FROM THE INLET TO THE OUTLET, SAID CASING INCLUDING AN APERTUREDD EXTERIOR WALL SECTION WHICH IS MOVABLE TO AND FROM A POSITION OVER THE OPENING, THE OUTLET BEING DEFINED BY SAID APERTURED EXTERIOR WALL SECTION IN ITS POSITION OVER SAID OPENING, A FINE AIR FILTER COMPRISING MATERIAL IN THE FORM OF A SHEET HAVING A CROSS-SECTIONAL AREA GREATER THAN THAT OF SAID OPENING, SAID SHEET HAVING FIRST AND SECOND OPPOSING SIDES AND BEING TRANSVERSE TO THE AXIS OF SAID OPENING AND REMOVABLY POSITIONED IN SAID PATH OF FLOW BETWEEN SAID OPENING AND SAID EXTERIOR WALL SECTION AND THROUGH WHICH ALL OF THE AIR MOVING IN SAID PATH OF FLOW PASSES TO REMOVE FINE DUST PAR- 